Hockey chastens Hellcats
Frustrations flared in Utah State hockey’s 12-3 victory over Montana State University Friday night at the Eccles Ice Center.
“If you blow up a score against anybody, they’re going to start getting frustrated and doing things bad,” Aggie captain Brendan MacDonald said. “Our main focus today was to make sure we maintained our composure.”
MacDonald and fellow forwards Tyler Mistelbacher and Brian Gibbons did just that. The three combined for seven goals and 14 assists on the night.
That offensive production is something the three have been replicating all season. MacDonald, Mistelbacher and Gibbons lead the Aggies in the three major categories: points, goals and assists.
“They read each other very well and know where each other is going to be on the ice,” Aggie assistant coach Paul Amidon said. “They play well as a unit.”
Play as a unit they did. The starting line found the back of the net five times in the first period alone.
The Aggies’ quick start led to an early 6-1 lead heading into second intermission.
“The white team, every time we put them out, they seemed to have a lot of energy and got things going,” USU head coach Jon Eccles said. “That can kind of break a team’s back.”
Montana State head coach Derek Porter wasted no time replacing his starting goalie with backup Will Thompson just 12 minutes into the first period. The change didn’t pay off for the Hellcats as the Aggies talent prevailed.
The Aggies have out-matched opponents all season and sometimes, MacDonald said, it is difficult to stay motivated and play well.
“We knew coming in that we would be the better team,” the forward said. “It was just matter of doing everything right.”
Mistelbacher notched a hat-trick in the period, getting his first goal just 21 seconds into the game, and
MacDonald ripped a shot that deflected off Thompson, before slipping between him and the post for his first of the night.
“My linemates are just great,” Mistelbacher said. “They are the reason why I got my goals.”
Defenseman Joel Basson and freshman forward Gary Higgs also found the net for the Aggies.
Montana State forward Cory Jewell scored for the Hellcats on a power play in the first period, but he was the only player to find the back of the net for the Hellcats in the first period.
Utah State slowed down after its big six-goal period and only managed three goals in the second period. All three goals came courtesy of the MacDonald, Mistelbacher and Gibbons line.
“We came out strong and put them away early,” Mistelbacher said. “I felt like we got away from our game a little bit in the second period.”
Gibbons got the first goal, just three minutes into the second, and MacDonald added a beauty, one minute later. MacDonald fell in front of the goal but managed to place the puck past Thompson before he went down.
MacDonald completed his hat-trick thanks to great passes from Mistelbacher and Gibbons.
Frustrations flared in the third period, which resulted in chippy play.
Utah State sophomore Chase Allington was disqualified when he dropped his gloves and helmet and went fist to fist with MSU’s Greg Slowinski.
“Sometimes emotion takes over,” Eccles said. “They become blinded and rage jumps out.”
Utah State penalties led to two Montana State goals. All three of the Hellcats’ goals came on the power play. Mike Allport and Clark Brighton found space against Aggie goalkeeper Alessandro Mullane in the third period.
The Aggies scored three more times to close out the game, including two from freshman Jordan Kerr.
Mullane had 26 saves in goal for the Aggies.
With the win Utah State remains undefeated on the season. The Aggies take the ice again Oct. 28, when Boise State comes to town.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu